The Bridge to Nowhere in LA’s San Gabriel Range is probably my favorite local hike. I’ve made several trips out there over the years, and it never fails to impress, even on a weekend when you’re sharing the trail with hordes of other people. The bridge was originally built in 1936 as part of a scenic highway connecting the area to Wrightwood on the north side of the range. But the project was abandoned two years later after flooding destroyed the surrounding roads, exposing the volatility of the landscape and the impracticality of building a highway through the area. Today, the bridge is privately owned by a consortium that takes clients out for bungee jumping, something I tried several years ago. I jumped twice, and those were the only two times I’ve ever bungee jumped. But relatively few hikers venture beyond the bridge, and once you do, the solitude gradually sets in. You’re treated to some lovely, peaceful scenery, interrupted only by the sound of the river and the occasional birdsong. There are several nice campsites along the way if you’re willing to walk in the river, as the route meanders back and forth across the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Robin and I headed out that way one weekend for a birthday overnight. The plan was to venture beyond the bridge and find a campsite a few miles up the river, near the exit of Fish Fork Canyon, a place I remember fondly from the time a group of us descended it. But after an hour or so of trudging through the river and crossing back and forth, we came across another campsite right on the water, complete with log benches and a fire ring, and decided to set up there instead. We didn’t see another soul for the rest of the trip, at least not until we made our way back to the bridge the following day.
